WTA News & Gossip 2023

[tossip]

In Auckland at the ASB Classic,
The Grandma of Tennis, Venus Williams defeated Qualifer K.Volynets in straight sets 76(4) 62

The Grande Dame is refusing to go away..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In Auckland,

Sloane Stephens (2) was defeated by Spanish qualifer Rebeka Masarova 63 7-6 (5), she did serve for the 2nd set..Some of the 1st rd matches had to be moved indoors because of the weather (rain). Sloane failed to adjust to the indoor conditions. Sloane hopes to play Hobart tournament, next week, to prepare for the AO which starts on January 16th.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Adelaide International 1,

O. Jabeur (1) vs S. Cirstea
V. Azarenka vs O. Zheng
L. Noskova V Q C. Liu
J. Opstapenko (7) vs Irina-Camelia Begu

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ASB Classic Auckland, January 5th ( notable matches)

C.Gauff (1) vs S. Kenin
E. Raducanu vs V.Kuzmova
L. Fernandez (3) vs J. Grabher
V. Williams vs L. Zhu

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nike included major reduction in its contracts ( from Relevent Tennis)
Players now have to meet certain performance requirements- such as ranking position or tournament entries - to earn money.
An agent said that players outside the Top 20 wearing Nike 'are not making money'.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

18 year old qualifer Czech player Linda Noskova wins her 4th consecutive match in Adelaide defeating C.Liu 62 62 to reach the QFS, will play Azarenka or Zheng Q.
Jelena Ostapenko (7) became a UFE machine 41 ufe in 2 sets of tennis UGH! and for her efforts was given a bagel in the 2nd set by Irina-Camelia Begu, she won 63 60
V. Azarenka d O. Zheng 62 75
O. Jabeur (10 d S.Cirstea 76(3) 61

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matches in Auckland have been suspended due to rain again, they may have to move matches scheduled for today indoor again

VWilliams v L. Zhu and L. Davis v D.Kovinic (7) suspended

Just heard the match between L.Davis v D.Kovinic (7) will be moved indoors due to rain, match resuming at 4pm local time
No word yet on Venus Williams match
Just an update on Venus Williams vs L. Zhu match, will also be moved indoors, play to begin not before 5pm local time
The way the weather has disrupted this tournament from day 1, maybe they should have all the matches indoors
Apparently officials have high hopes of the night matches being played outdoors

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In Auckland, after rain delays and matches went indoors,
D.Kovinic (7) d L.Davis 46 63 62

Venus Williams was serving for the match 5-4 broken, 5 all, broken again and L. Zhu won the match in 3 sets 36 62 75
C. Gauff (1) d S. Kenin 64 64
L. Fernandez d J. Grabher 60 61
Emma Raducanu was forced to retire in her match against Kuzmova, due to an ankle injury, her fifth retirement in the last 52 weeks, Emma won the 1st set 60 and lost the 2nd set 75, when she had to retire

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Where is Naomi Osaka and will she play at the AO in 2023,

Without a match in 4 months, Osaka seems all but certain to miss the AO, having only just arrived back to her US base this week following a jaunt through Europe with her rapper boy friend Cordae
Unseeded and now ranked #42, Osaka is still on the AO entry list, though isnt down to play at the Adelaide Tournament 2 or Hobart next week.
Hopefully Osaka will inform AO officials of her intentions of playing asap.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ASB Classic Auckland QFS,

Gauff - Zhu
Kizmova - Kovinic
Bonaventure - Fernandez
Muchova - Masarova

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Adelaide 1 QFs,

O. Jabeur (1) vs M. Kostyuk
A. Sabalenka (2) vs M. Vondrousova
V. Kudermetova (4) vs I. Begu
Q L. Noskova v V. Azarenka

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The return of WTA tournaments to China in 2023 will hinge on a resolution to the Peng Shuai issue, with the governing body of the women's game telling Reuters on Wednesday it had still not met the Chinese former doubles world number one personally.
The WTA said it had received confirmation Peng was safe and comfortable but were yet to meet her personally.
"We continue to hold firm on our position and our thoughts remain with Peng".The WTA continues to works towards a resolution".
"While we have always indicated we are hopeful we will be in a position to again operate WTA events in the region, we will not compromise our founding principals in order to do so".

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Complete list of AO main draw wild cards,

Diane Parry (FRA)
Moyuka Uchijima (JPN)
Taylor Towsend (USA)
Venus Williams (USA)
Jaimee Fourlis (AUS)
Olivia Gadecki (AUS)
Storm Hunter (AUS)
Talia Gibson (AUS)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ons Jabeur has signed with Evolve, Naomi Osaka and Stuart Duguid's agency.

 

[tossip]

In Auckland,

Sloane Stephens (2) was defeated by Spanish qualifer Rebeka Masarova 63 7-6 (5), she did serve for the 2nd set..Some of the 1st rd matches had to be moved indoors because of the weather (rain). Sloane failed to adjust to the indoor conditions. Sloane hopes to play Hobart tournament, next week, to prepare for the AO which starts on January 16th.

At this rate Scone is one foot out of the door,she doesn't seem motivated prepared.She is a gifted athlete and had potential to dominate the tour,and she failed.My hope is on Coco and Parks,and the rest will win here and there or fade away.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At this rate Scone is one foot out of the door,she doesn't seem motivated prepared.She is a gifted athlete and had potential to dominate the tour,and she failed.My hope is on Coco and Parks,and the rest will win here and there or fade away.

Sloane is a gifted athlete, you know when she won the USO, I really thought she would go on and win more GS titles, sad to say, that was not the case, lets see, if Roig can get her motivated again.Time will tell.
Hopefully Coco can go 1 better this year and win her 1st GS title, Parks is talented, though lets see how she competes on the WTA tour this year

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ASB Tennis Classic match between Gauff v Zhu had to be moved indoors? it is raining again.This tournament is nearly a official indoor tournament as we are in the QFS....hopefully the surface will not be as slippery, poor Emma Raducanu slipped and rolled her ankle yesterday and had to retire

In her QF match, a solid clean match from Coco Gauff defeating Zhu 63 62
Kovinic (7) d Kuzmova 63 62
Bonaventure d L. Fernandez (3) 64 62

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Watching Sabalenka in Adelaide, she is serving well today, maybe the 'Bio mechanic specialist' she hired last year, is finally working? or it is too soon to tell goodness me did Vondrousova, her opponent, have all that 'arm art' when she was last on tour before her injuries? not a fan of tatoo's at all
Sabalenka broken serving for the match, I guess I did speak to soon 5 games all...
Sabalenka got her act together and defeated Vondrousova 63 75
I. Begu d V. Kudermetova (4) 75 64

 

[tossip]

I don't see Swiatek winning AO23....nothing against her,I just see someone else winning.I am waiting for the draw to see who plays who .

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don't see Swiatek winning AO23....nothing against her,I just see someone else winning.I am waiting for the draw to see who plays who .

We need a player that can be consistent, so far Swiatek especially in 2022 was that player, there are players on the tour with games to upset Iga, lets wait and see the draw, also some of the warm up tournaments may also give us some indication
BTW Jess Pegula in the United Cup is leading Iga 5-1